Uncoupling device for car couplers



July 19,1927. 1,636,154 A. E. SMALL UNGOUPLING DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed June 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l lLLLlll i l Zzven for July 19, 1927.

A. E. SMALL UNCOUPLING DEVICE ITOR CAR GOUPLERS Filed June 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e2 e for florng/ v Patented July 19, 1927.

:UMZEEB STA-res PAEIJZNT errce,

ARTHUR s. SMALL, or cnIoA o, rpfLmors, nss'rqn'e'n fro mamm l; rnqnuc'rs cor/[renter CHICAGO, VILLINPIS, A cont-engines or 111AiivAnn.

UNCQUPLING DEVICE FOR C AR Application filed June},

This particular inventionreletesto What isgenerally known in the al't 'as the push down or vertical planetype of uncoupling device and comprises two levers operatively co nnected having their adj acentends pivotally mounted on the same fulcrum. Such devices are operated either by hand ,or ;foot. (The particular advantageofthis construction resides in the manner inwhich the levers arcpivoted upon the fulcrum.) Iii-levers of this general type the connection betweenthe levers must gallow the ,pin lifting lever to more freely laterally to accommodate the longitudhia l movement of the coupler in draft and in buffing. p y

i The manner of operativcly connecting the two ev r mid wunt sithsm 0 1 mmen fulcrum, in accordance withgthis invention, provides a separate connection allowing play ol" the tulcruni end of p the pin lifting lever in a horizontal plane Without transmitting such i ioyen ent to' the operating lever,- and turtl; icir nore, provides means of operatiyely attaching. the operating leyer to Q the fuljcruin which preients or restricts its; lateral n o y ement.v

The impact of coupling causes sudden longitudinal movement of the coupler, vwhich movement is trans 'nitted to "the adjacent ,end of the pin litl'tin'g lever and would heitransmitted to the operating vlever unless that lever is prevented from moving. laterally. Switch nen frequently ride a 'mo ing car While coupling it and at the same tiine signal the engineer. In such'an act he usually holds on theqgrah iron with his leftfhand and signals the engineer Withihis righbhand while his left foot is on the sill step and his right .toot is on the operating lever; While in such a position a sudden movement of the operating lever has a tendency to and frequently does, throw himfrom the tlll. One of the objects, therefore,- is to provide a device which is safe forthe switchman to operate.

' A separate connecting, member and hearing block has theadvzintages of increasing the hearing areaon the'journal fulcrum thereby reducing the friction and making the device easier to operate'and also reducingthe vWear on the associated parts. The connecting block non-rotatiyely connects the (i i-c: a'iizig Tever and the pin lifting lever so 1 2a senauvo. 543,278.

tl at aforce exerted onvtheeouter end ovf-the operating lever raises the inner end otithe pin lifting leyer.

connectionhetween the levers vsurr neum jonnnal a nd tilting of the operat nglei er from the yertical plane is j lpre rented :by positioning the operating Ileyer hetivelen' the cpinlifting lever ,and shoulders on the connecting blockfa'nd the pin lifting level-is prevented tem tilting" by being 'posi tioned between the operating ,leyer and shoulders on the con iectiiig flblock. This elimination of the tilting of the 'leyers conside'ra'bly reduces the friction between the le ver sia'nd theirinlerum Goodpractice requires thatthehandle end of v the operating leverpbe positioned slightly in from of tlie' ie' 't-icallplane of the face of the end. sill and he'loi'v the push .p'o'le pocket. This isa generally recognized location 01 this li z'inijllegf therefore, siflfitclnnen can if'each it qu fkly men in the darkness. lt is adv antag'eous, therefore, to not I permit lever Ito ym ve laterally; and especially Fadv an'tageous not to ,allolyv the .suddenor jerk nqn 'eine t..oif the'pinilifting le-Ive'r to betransinitted to i the operat'in g "lever. i

Another object is to provide "an arrangenient ffjor connecting the two leversto the fiilcrum xvhi'c'h'also prevents the A levers from inent ofthe lever in a yert'ical planewhich is a requirement of the Interstate Commerce Cihninissioii safety appliance acts;

theldrayvings i y I is :a fragmentary yie wof a f ei ht car with the device applied thereonr' Fig. 2 isanenlarged detail top plan iew of the fulcru nfand i ad j acent ends of the levers parts Broken away.

Fig; a front elevationof Fig. 2.

Ion

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. is a perspective view of the fulcrum end of the operating lever.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fulcrum end of the pin lifting lever.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail plan view of a modification showing the fulcrum and adjacent ends of the lever with parts broken away.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the fulcrum.

Fig. is a perspective view of the con nector.

The end sill 1 push pole poclret2; striking casting 3 and coupler 4. are usual parts of the car. The fulcrum casting 5 is secured to the end sill or other part of the car by rivets 6 and and the fulcrum has an integral journal 7 upon which is rotatively mounted the connector 8. This connector is held in operative position by washer 9 which in turn is held in place by bolt 10 and nut 11.

The operating lever 12 is preferably provided with an aperture 13 at its fulcrum end and pin lifting lever 14 is preferably provided with aperture 15 at its fulcrum end. These apertures engage journal 7 of the fulcrum, so as to prevent either lever from moving longitudinally of itself.

The'connector 8 may beof a box shape having two vertical walls 16 and 17 which are perforated for engagement with the journal 7 and between which the operating lever 12 and pin lifting lever 14 are mounted on the journal. These vertical walls may be connected at top or bottom or both by horizontal walls 18 and 19. The double bearing of the connector on the journal, as provided by walls 16 and 17 prevents the connector from tipping from a vertical plane and also increases the bearing area, thereby reducing the friction and making the device easier to operate. The horizontal wall 18 or 19 causes the operating lever and pin lifting lever to act in unison so that a downward movement on the handle 20 of operating lever 12 causes an upward movement of the inner end 21 of the pin lifting lever thus raising the coupler lock lifter 22.

The vertical walls 16 and 17 are provided with projections 23 and 24 which will be noted in the plan view Fig. 2, are positioned adjacent the center line of the fulcrum. The end of the pin lifting lever 14 is deflected at 25. This arrangement of parts permits the operating and pin lifting levers to move laterally or in a substantially horizontal plane so that the pin lifting lever can accommodate the movements of the coupler in buffng and draft.

The juxtaposition of the fulcrum end of the operating lever, the fulcrum end of the pin lifting lever and the projections 23 and 24 prevent the levers from tipping from a vertical plane. If the levers were permitted to assume an angular position their friction with the journal 7 would be greatly increased. The fulcrum 5. is provided with a lug 26 to limit the rotary movement of the device in a vertical plane.

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of the device wherein the lateral movement of the operating lever is prevented or restricted. The lateral movement of the pin lifter lever, caused by the coupler in bufiing and draft cannot be transmitted to the operating lever.

In this modification the connector is of a box construction and has vertical walls 51 and 52 and may be connected by horizontal walls 53 or 54 or both. The connector 50 is further provided with vertical walls 55 and 56 which, together with wall 51, form a recess for the insertion of the fulcrum end of the operating lever. This construction prevents (or restricts Within commercial limitations) the lateral movement of the operating lever. The walls 52, 55 and 56 are provided with projections 57 and 58 which perform the same functions as projections 23 and 21 heretofore described. I

The fulcrum 59 has a journal 60 which engages apertures 61 and 62 of the connector. The lug 63 on the connector engages projections 64 on the fulcrum to limit the rotary movement of the device in a vertical plane.

lVhile I have described the connector as being of box construction, it is understood that either or both of the vertical walls may be used or either or both of the horizontal walls may be used and still come within the SCODG of this invention.

While this invention is illustrated as ap plied to a certain type of freight car, it is readily adapted withbut slight immaterial changes for application to other types.

I claim:

1. In an uncoupling device for a railway car a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever mounted directly upon said journal, a pin lifting lever mounted directly upon said journal, and a separate connector for said levers mounted on said journal.

2. In an uncouplii'lg device for a railway car a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever mounted directly upon said journal, a pin lifting lever mounted directly upon said journal, and a separate connector for said levers mounted on said journal, having means to cause said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane and to permit relative nioven'ient of said levers in a horizontal plane.

3. In an uncoupling device for a railway car a fulcrum having a ournal, an operating lever mounted directly upon said journal. a pin lifting lever mounted directly upon said journal, and a separate connector for said liil] Ines-n54 levers mounted on said ournal having means to cause said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane and to restrict the lateral movement of said operating lever though permitting lateral movement of said pin liftiuglever. I II 4:. In an uncoupling device for a railway car a iulcrum having a. journal, a separate connector having two walls, each bearing on said journal, an operating lever,.and a pin lifting lever, said levers mounted on said journal between said walls, I I

5. In an uncoupling device for a railway car a fulcrum having a journal, a separate connector having two walls, each bearing on said journal, an operating lever, and a pin lifting lever, said levers mounted on said journal between said Walls, saidconnector having means to restrict the lateral movement of said operating lever and to permit lateral movement ci'said pin lifting lever.

. 6. In an uncoupling device for a railwa car a fulcrum having a ournal, an operatin lever mounted directly upon Said journal, a pin lilting lever mounted directly upon said journal, and ,a separat-e connector for said levers mounted on said journal having means toret-ain the fulcrum ends of said levers in a sul'istantially vertical plane. Y I

7. In an uncoupling device for railway cars comprising ai'ulcrum having a journal,

a separate connector having two walls eachv bearing on said journal, an operating lever, and a pin lilting lever, said levers mounted on said journal between said Walls, said conuector having means to cause said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane and to permit relative movement of said levers in a horizontal plane. I

8. In an uncoupling device for railway cars comprising a fulcrum having a journal, a separate connector having two walls each bearing on said journal, an operating lever, and a pin .liftinglever, said levers mounted on said ournal between said walls, said connector having means to retain the fulcrum ends of said levers in a substantially vertical plane. I

9. In an uncoupling device for railway cars comprising a fulcrum having a jourhalt a separate connector having two walls each bearing on said journal, an operating lever, and a pin lifting lever, said levers inountec'l on said journal between said walls, said connector having means to retain the 'lulcrum ends of said levers in ,a substantially vertical plane, and to permit relative moven'lent or said levers in a horizontal plane. r

10. In an uncoupling device for railway cars comprisinga fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever, a pin "lifting lever mounted directly upon said journal, and a separate connector 'for said levers mounted on said journal having means to cause said levels to act in unison in a vertical plane and to restrict the lateral movement of said operatinglever though permitting lateral service movement of said pin lifting lever.

after they are inserted in said connector and the connector is mounted upon the j ournal, said longitudinal movement is prevented. V

12. In an uncoupling device for railway cars a fulcrum having a journal and a lug, an operating lever mounted directly upon said journal, a pin lifting lever mounted directly "upon said journal, and a separate connectorforsaid levers mounted on said journal and provided with a stop to engage said lug to restrict the rotative movement'otl said connectorabout said fulcrum.

13, An encoep, iig device comprising in combination a connector, a fulcrum Whereon said connie'ctor is'osci llatably supported and aile'ver "includinga handle arm and an operating arm disposed oppositely and having their adjacent ends 'detachabl y secured to said connector, said connector being formed to receive'and'hdld the said ends in effective mutual frla tio'n, and said arms each being formed to receive said fulcrum transversely whereby they are locked in said connector and secured against appreciable endwise movement. I I I I I I 14. An uncoupling device comprising in combination a connector, ,a fulcrum whereon said conne'c'tor is oscillatalily supported, and a sectional lever having operatin'gand pin lifting a1 ms, said connector "beingapertured to' receive 'and hold "pin liftingv a rm corotatably therewith and free for limited l iorizorrtafl fos'cillaltion 'to accommodatecoupier movem'ent when I in .use, said connector coacting with s aijd operating arm when the latter isactuatd to lift the pin, and said fulcrum and conneotorbeing shouldered to limit the'movement of said connector.

15. In a release -ri ging for a car coupler, an. operating lever raving an aperture adjacent its fulcrum end, a pin lifting lever having an aperture adjacent its fulcrum end,

a co'nnector operatively connecting said levers and provided with anaperture, a journal fulcrum passing through'all of said apertures, means to retain the parts in operative relation.

' a release rigging for a car coupler, an operating lever with a rectangular portionhavi'ng an aperture adjacent its fulcrum end, a pin lifting "lever with a rectangular portion having an aperture adjacent its fulcrum end, a connector comprising a vertical wall with an aperture and spaced apart horizontal walls, said levers positioned between said horizontal walls whereby they are operatively connected, a journal fulcrum passing through all of said apertures, and means to retain the parts in operative relation.

17. In a release rigging for a car coupler, a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever rotatively mounted directly upon said journal, a pin lifting lever rotatively mounted directly upon said journal, and a connector rotatively mounted upon said journal and provided with means to cause said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane.

18. In a release rigging for a car coupler, a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever rota-tively mounted directly upon said journal, a pin lifting lever rotatively mounted directly upon said journal, and a connector having a vertical portion rotatively mounted upon said journal and a horizontal portion which causes said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane.

19. In a release rigging for a car coupler,

a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever perforated to form a journal bearing upon said journal, a pin lifting lever perforated to form a journal bearing upon said journal, and a connector having a vertical portion perforated to form a journal bearing upon said journal and provided with means to cause said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane.

20. In an uncoupling device for a railway car, a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever mounted upon said journal, a pin lifting lever, and a connector mounted upon said journal provided with means to cause said levers to act in unison in a vertical plane, said connector comprising oppositely disposed portions spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the pin lifting lever in one vertical plane only, said pin lifting lever mounted upon said journal between said portions whereby a lateral swinging movement of said pin lifting lever permitted.

21. In an uncoupling device for a railway air, a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever, a pin lifting lever, and a connector mounted upon said journal provided with u'ieans to cause said levers to act in unison in :1 vertical plane, said connector comprising oppositely disposed portions spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the width of the pin lifting lever in one vertical plane only, said pin lifting lever mounted upon said journal between said portions whereby a lateral swinging movement of said pin lifting lever is permitted, said connector also comprising parallel walls spaced apart substantially equal to the width of said operating lever, said operating lever mounted upon said journal between said walls whereby any appreciable lateral swinging movement of said operating lever is prevented.

22. A connector for levers in an uncoupling device for railway cars comprising spaced apart walls with registering perforations, said walls being nearer together adjacent said perfm'ations.

:3. A connector for levers in an uncou pling device for railway cars comprising spaced apart walls with registering perforations, said walls being nearer together adjacent said perforations, and an integral portion positioned between said walls and parallel to one of said walls.

In an uncoupling device for a railway car,'a fulcrum having a journal, an operating lever, a pin lifting lever, and a separate connector mounted on said fulcrum operatively connecting said levers, each of said levers formed to receive the journal so that their longitudinal movement is restricted.

In a device of the character described, a leverage arm connector apertured for pivotal mounting and having a pair of substantially parallel apertures on opposite sides of the pivot aperture and intersecting same, one of said parallel apertures being flared in both directions from the point of intersection referred to for accomn'iodatiug the necessary normal free movement of an operating arm due to car or coupler movement.

26. An uncoupling device comprising in combination a connector, a fulcrum whereon said connector is oscillatably supported, and a lever having flexibly connected operating and pin lifting arms, said connector being apertured to receive and hold said pin lifting arm co-rotatably therewith and horizontally oscillatable to accomn'iodate tractive movement of the coupling when in use, and said connector being shouldered to coact with said operating arm when the latter is actuated to lift the pin.

27. An uncoupling device comprising in COll'lbllltttlOll a connector adapted to serve as a fulcrum bracket, a fulcrum whereon said connector is oscillatably supported, and a sectional lever having flexibly connected operating and pin lifting arms, said connector being aperturcd to receive and hold said pin lifting arm co-rotatably therewith and free for limited horizontal oscillation to accomn'iodate coupler movement when in use, said connector co-acting with said o 'ierating arm when the latter is actuated to lift the pin, and said fulcrum and connector being shouldered to limit the movement of said connector.

28. In an uncoupling device for a car coupler, a fulcrum with a journal, a mcmher having an aperture engaging said jourhaving an aperture engaging said journal 1 nal and having another aperture normal and having another aperture normal thereto, thereto, and a lever loosely fitting in Said and a lever loosely fitting in said other aperother aperture, said lever provided with ture, said lever provided With a portion'en- I means coo iierating with said journal retirely surrounding said journal thereby restricting the longitudinal movement of said stricting the longitudinal movement of said 15 lever. lever.

29. In an uncoupling device for a car coupler, a fulcrum with a journal, a member 7 1 ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

